I think if we consider the fact that the Grateful Dead had not played going down the road feeling bad at all with vocals before this time, and after this festival express train ride and concerts they did start playing it live on 10/10/70, and that the first recorded version of it with the vocals is noticeable right at the start of the film, as sung by Delaney and Bonnie, we can I think put two and two together and assume that this is where the song was transmitted to the band and they picked it up and made it their own for the rest of their career. I know it's speculative, but that's my take on things. Because prior to this there were lots of instances of Jerry playing the going down the road feeling bad coda, you know that little jam at the end, but it would pop up in unexpected songs or jams and it was just basically the coda melody. Of course the song Shirley was in there awareness because it's a traditional old-timey song that they would have run into previously in some form or another, but I really do believe that this is where it reconnected with them.. I'm interested to hear any other thoughts on this. I assume that when the good old Grateful Dead podcast gets around to discussing the song we should have some more clarification.

It's nice to hear the train ride that spawned "Might as Well", and it's fun to imagine being on that trip and hearing these tunes...with some bass added.

Does anyone know who that guitar player is that sounds like Stephen Stills? A lot of fat fuzz with some slide. It sounds exactly like his tone, but I figure if it was him we'd hear him singing too, mic or no mic.

As I say, this recording has no bass whatsoever. There are also too many guitars, some of the best ones buried in the mix. Still, it's a fun listen.

1. GDTRFB
2. Delaney sings a blues
3. Honky Tonk Woman
4. ?
5. Sugar Magnolia (Pick a Bail of Cotton)

As far as who is actually present playing, it's hard to tell. Delaney and Bonnie are audible singing in the background of GDTRFB. Delaney is singing the lead vocal on track 2, a blues that I'm sure someone out there must know the name of. Jerry comes in playing a standard electric guitar at the end of Jam 4 and plays a brief little solo at 14:16. Delaney is probably playing the guitar throughout as well. Leslie West is audible playing on Sugar Mag/Cotton Jam.

That's all I got from the first listen. I'll try to dig out more clues.

I'm giving this four stars simply for historical significance. The sound is what it is.
Thanks to Charlie Miller for putting this up!!!!

Is it just me or is Jam 3 based around Honky Tonk Women? (Hard knox and durty sox.)

...__[:]o

Even if they are forty year old mike recordings, we appreciate you putting this up.

Real cool stuff! I wish some of their Festival Express sets were up on the archive. Oh well. this is grate anyways!

Once your ears get accustomed to the questionable sound quality, they'll encounter nothing but pure, funky, downhome JAMMING.

It's a treat to hear this tape from the famed Festival Express train--the legendary week long jam locomotive featuring the Grateful Dead, the band, big brother, buddy guy, and more that is documented in the outstanding film Festival Express. This is just a glimpse of what it sounded like on that nonstop party train. It's not clear who is playing on this recording besides weir on electric and jerry on pedal steel, i think robbie robertson and/or buddy guy is jamming here as well as a host of people on percussion/vibes. The sugar magnolia is a sugar magnolia jam without the vocals and is the highlight. Although the sound quality is bad, this tape is worth checking out for its historical significance at the least. 4 stars.

This is the only jam sessions from the train on the site, so you just have to deal with the meager sound quality.

Lots of pedal steele guitar in most of the tracks
Jam 4 gets going
sugar mags is probably the most fun

posterity I guess?